Program sharer

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a program sharer software that uses technology including storage systems on servers and data access redirection to enable frequently used software (such as document editing software, program development tools, drawing software, ERP software, CAD/CAM software mail software, and so on,) to be executed on client terminals, when, in fact, the software is installed on centralized management software servers. The data access redirection technology in the Windows OS is separated into file redirection, registry redirection, local facilities usage and font installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a program sharer, that enablesfront-end computers to use and execute an operating environment of ahost terminal without the need for installing any software on thefront-end computers other than operation systems, and without placing astrain on hardware resources of the host terminal such as CPU, memory,and so on. Moreover, software of the host computer terminal are loadedinto the front-end computers for execution and use thereon.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional software design is primarily divided into two majorportions: one portion is an algorithm 101, and the other portion is dataaccess 102, as depicted in FIG. 1, wherein examples of the algorithm 101include word processing, digital arithmetic, graphic processing,commercial logic, and so on. The data access 102 accesses data in a datastorage system 104 through a kernel service system 103. The kernelservice system 103, Is a service system such as Microsoft WindowsOperation System (Windows OS). The data storage system 104 is providedwith two large storage systems, wherein one is a file system 1041, andthe other is a registry system 1042. The file system 1041 is responsiblefor accessing software execution code and data files needed by thesoftware, such as graphics, sound, and so on. The registry system 1042is responsible for accessing software related settings, such as fileaccess paths, and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, in order to avoid repeat installation and maintainexecution efficiency of software, the present invention includes akernel service system 13 beneath a Windows OS data access 12 thatenables software, which is actually installed on centralized managementsoftware servers, to be executed on a client terminal by means ofnetwork 14 data access redirection technology. The software servers,which include a storage system on server 115 and a storage system onserver 216, are internally configured with file systems 151, 161 andregistry systems 152, 162 respectively.

In order to achieve the aforementioned constructs in a Windows OS, thepresent invention separates the program sharer system into the followingfour portions: file redirection, registry redirection, local facilitiesusage and font installation, which enable users to run any software onclient terminals through the program sharer of the present invention,thereby achieving considerable savings in time and cost of installation,maintenance, updating and uninstalling of software, as well as changingthe concept that software must be installed in order to use. Desktopcomputer or notebook computer users can easily use the present inventionto save valuable time, thereby greatly conveniencing and simplifyinginformation lifestyle and improving efficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1. File Redirection:

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows a flow chart block diagram of aconventional application file access, wherein applications 201 use Win32API Calls 2011 to enter a Win32 Subsystem 202, API being an abbreviationfor Applications Program Interface. The aforementioned procedure is partof an observable platform user mode, which then passes through a systemservice interface 2021 of an unobservable platform kernel mode andenters an I/O manager 203. The procedure then enters file system drivers204 and storage device drivers 205 through an IRP passed to driverdispatch routine 2031, and finally enters a logical volume 206, which,in the current market, generally includes a floppy disk drive, a harddisk drive, a CD-ROM drives, and so on.

Referring to FIG. 4, which shows a flow chart block diagram ofapplication file access according to the present invention, which, underthe precondition that the source code is not modified, enables access toremote files by adopting a method whereby a related file access portionof the system service interface 2021 passes through the I/O manager 203and the IRP driver dispatch routine 2031, and is then redirected toremote file access by means of redirector file system drivers 24 andprotocol drivers 25 to a network 26.

2. Registry Redirection:

Referring to FIG. 5, which shows a flow chart block diagram of registryredirection according to the present invention, wherein the registry isdistinct from the file system. The registry stores a large number ofsettings related to the hardware. Applications 31 use the Win32 APIcalls 311 to enter the Win32 subsystem 32, and then redirection rules 33enable selection of either a local registry 34 or a remote registry 36through a network 35. Hence, rule-based redirection of registry dataenables unhindered use of local hardware (such as network cards,printers, and so on).

3. Local Facilities Usage:

Referring to FIG. 6, which shows a flow chart block diagram of localfacilities usage access according to the present invention, whereinlocal facilities, such as network cards, printers, RS 232, USB, and soon, use registry stored settings during the course of access. Hence,local facilities-related rules 43 are used to enable unhindered use ofsuch local facilities.

4. Font Installation:

Referring to FIG. 7, which shows a flow chart block diagram of aconventional Windows Operation System font cache, wherein applications501 use Win32 API Calls 5011 to enter a Win32 Subsystem 502, and accesslocal font files 504 by way of a font cache 503.

Referring to FIG. 8, which shows a flow chart block diagram of a WindowOS font cache according to the present invention, wherein applications51 use Win32 API Calls 511 to enter a Win32 Subsystem 52 and integratewith local font files 54 and remote font files 56 through a modifiedfont cache 53 and a network 55 respectively.

Advantages of the present invention:

-   1. Achieves considerable savings in time and cost of installation,    maintenance, updating and uninstalling of software.

(1) Centralized management of all programs, apart from the hostcomputer, there is no need to further install any applications on anyclient computers apart from a basic operation system.

(2) Unified updating of program versions, thereby eliminating the needto maintain computer software of all computers one by one.

(3) Program operating screen or execution environment are identical tooriginal single computer state, thereby eliminating additional cost oflearning or setting up.

-   2. Integrates software/hardware resources within a business, thereby    improving investment benefits.

All computer users only need authorization, which can be invoked atanytime and transferred to any computer program, thereby providing thesame convenience as local execution. Software/hardware of the entirebusiness can be fully integrated and made use of, thereby improvingsoftware/hardware investment benefits.

The present invention is characterized in having:

-   1. Centralized management of programs, dispersed execution, and    combined advantages of Terminal and Client/Server structure.-   2. Local peripheral hardware usage, including CPU, memory, printer,    and so on.-   3. No delay problem in mouse operation.-   4. No graphic color restrictions, apart from that imposed by local    support.-   5. No graphic display delay problem.-   6. Suitable for running drawing or multimedia player programs.

Suitable Operation Systems of the Present Invention:

If a Microsoft 2000/2003 system is installed on the host computerterminal, then the front-end operation system must also be Microsoft2000/2003 in order to operate. If a Microsoft XP Professional system isinstalled on the host computer terminal, then the front-end operationsystem must also be Microsoft XP Professional in order to operate

In conclusion, the present invention enables front-end computers, whichhave no application software installed, use and execute the operatingenvironment of the host computer terminal. Moreover, the presentinvention will not place a strain on hardware resources of the hostcomputer terminal, such as CPU, memory, and so on. The front-endcomputers need only have an operation system installed, without anyfurther software installed, and software of the host computer terminalcan be loaded into the front-end computers for execution and usethereon.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinis merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that awide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart block diagram of a conventional softwaredesign.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart block diagram of a software design using dataaccess redirection art according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart block diagram of a conventional applicationfile access.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart block diagram of application file accessaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart block diagram of registry redirectionaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart block diagram of local facilities usage accessaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart block diagram of a conventional Window OS fontcache.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart block diagram of a Window OS font cacheaccording to the present invention.

1. A program sharer that enables front-end computers, which have noapplication software installed, use and execute the operatingenvironment of a host computer terminal; the program sharer comprises:storage systems on servers, which use data access redirection to enablesoftware installed on software servers to be executed on clientterminals; and redirector file system drivers, which are able tointercept related file access of a system service interface and redirectto a remote file access.
 2. The program sharer as recited in claim 1,wherein a file system replaces a registry, and rule-based redirection ofregistry data enables unhindered use of local hardware.
 3. The programsharer as recited in claim 2, wherein the hardware is all local hardwareof a network card.
 4. The program sharer as recited in claim 2, whereinthe hardware is all local printer hardware.
 5. The program sharer asrecited in claim 1, wherein the file system replaces local facilities,and uses registry access to settings, and establishes correspondingregistry redirection rules to enable unhindered use of equipment.
 6. Theprogram sharer as recited in claim 5, wherein the local facilities areall local hardware of a network card.
 7. The program sharer as recitedin claim 5, wherein the local facilities are all local printer hardware.8. The program sharer as recited in claim 5, wherein the localfacilities are all local RS-232 hardware.
 9. The program sharer asrecited in claim 5, wherein the local facilities are all local USBhardware.
 10. The program sharer as recited in claim 1, wherein filesystem are font files, and the Windows OS uses a modified font cache tointegrate local and remote font files.